Question:
I am curious, why is the water purification technology availableon the market so old? Does that mean customers are happywith the current state of technology? Could it also mean thatno market need exists to develop improved or new technology?Do any engineers out their have to use ion exchange, RO, DIetc., or can need to use the above usually this be designed around?

Answer: I think that water purification is considered a grey area, shared bymechanical, civil and chemical engineers, with neither party taking thelead. There are concrete tanks, channels and ponds which the civil engineerwould argue are his preserve. The chemical and mechanical engineers wouldalso present arguments in their favour. Therefore, even though the waterpurification market is huge, it has not been buoyant and the scope forimprovement and optimisation apparently unchallenged.

Pick up any book on the subject and you get lots of pretty pictures ofantiquated equipment designed with insanely simple equations and you get theincorrect idea that there is no real money involved. It is because theseinstallations are small and built close to their sources, that they have noprofound design basis. However, I would be surprised if there were nonational, economic, model that standardises equipment in order to minimisestock-holding and maintenance time.

Also don't forget that the installations are owned by government orquasi-government organisations and that could be a dampening factor.